Breastfeeding/pumping - Going Back to Work - Need Advice

Hello! I breastfed my baby for about 16 months, while working full time and pumping at work. I pumped 3x a day (worked 8-5) until she was over a year, then I cut down to 2x a day. I think it helps keep milk supply up to pump more often instead of longer. I would also invest in a good pump, I had the Medela Pump in Style Advanced, it makes all the difference in the world.

To make the time go faster, I listened to my ipod and downloaded books and podcasts ("This American Life" weekly podcast was the best ever, plus you can buy past episodes for .99!), it helped pumping become something I looked forward to, a nice break from working. Also, there's a good book called 'The Milk Memos' which is written my breastfeeding moms that went back to work, a good time to read it is when you first go back, it's almost like you have someone going through the same issues as you at the same time! Good luck and be proud that you are doing what is BEST, not what is easiest!

Awesome that you have your own office you can shut/lock the door!

I recommend any Medela dual automatic (not hand) pump. They are awesome!!

I would start out by pumping at the same times you would feed your baby. If that is every 2 hours, pump every two hours. I think I fed my son before I dropped him off at daycare, then would pump a few hours later, then again in the afternoon. I then a few months later cut it back to pumping 1x a day.

I've used both Medela Pump (advanced system) and Ameda Purely Yours - I preferred the Ameda as it was very simple to set up and use and was able to extract more milk (cheaper). At work I always kept several pictures of my DD and I noticed that if I looked at those pictures and let myself imagine her with me that I was able to extract more milk - smelling a blanket or shirt help too.

Also, when extracting at home, I always pumped first and then breastfed. This method seemed to help me produce more milk as the pump was never as effective as my DD and she was always able to get what she needed as my milk production adjusted pretty readily to her needs. Good luck!

I would always nurse in the AM before I left (I would let baby sleep till the last minute until I had just enough time to nurse and leave, Daddy took him to daycare). Then I would have my 2 15 minute breaks....one I would take probably 10ish , the other like 2-3 ish. I would also pump while I was eating lunch...I would get my food all ready attach pump, then I could kinda lean in towards the table to help stablize while I was eating. They have hands free pumping bras now too. Then first thing when I got home we would nurse. As he got older, I first cut out the lunch time pumping. Then it got to the point where he didn't want to wake in the morning so we cut that out. Then I got more flexible about after work, we would run errands etc before going home and nursing. I was able to continue for 14 months, although not without a few battles with my milk supply. I always nursed him when I was home at night or weekends. When my supply got low I got serious about nutrition, drank alot of water and took fenugreek.

You are so lucky to have a private office, most women struggle to find a place. I did sometimes have to take slightly more than 15 minutes but my employer never gave me a hard time about it. I would also take a picture with me and close my eyes and just imagine that I was cuddled up with my baby and try to remind myself of all the sensory feelings that went along with it and I would find that after a few min of doing that I woudl feel much more relaxed and the milk would be coming in force.

I too used a Medela pump in style and they are really the best ones out there. I have heard the Ameda works well too. You can also rent hospital grade pumps but they are like $30 a month, for about $300 you can have your very own that is almost as good. I was able to keep my milk in the communal fridge at work, I just tucked it in the back behind stuff people didn't use often. You can also keep it in a cooler with a cold pack if you don't have that. I used Playtex bottles and they make an adapter set that lets you pump right into the drop in liners so that was very helpful. I kept some dish soap and papertowels at work to clean up and some of the quick clean wipes for those times when I was rushed.

Good luck! It's hard work but totally do-able!

My daughter never latched well. I decided to pump exclusively and have been doing so for just over 7 months. I have the Medela Pump in Style and it is great! I was home for three months before returning to work. When I first started pumping I pumped every 2-3 hours. Slowly over the 3 month maternity leave I stretched the time between pumping out. By the time I went back to work I was pumping three times a day. I still am on that schedule now. I pump in the morning, at lunch and before bed. On average I pump about 40 ounces of milk a day. I keep up with my growing girl and stock plenty away...just in case...

My tips for successful pumping are:
Eat calorie rich, but healthy meals
Snack often
Drink plenty of fluids- water, iced tea, lemonade
Treat yourself to a beer a few times a week- it helped my milk supply
Completely empty your breasts
Pump for a few minutes after your breasts are empty. It signals to your brain that your baby needs more milk and you will make more.
Be consistent. You have to stick to it for it to work.

Pumping has worked GREAT for me. I hope your experience is as good as mine.
Good luck!

Congratulations on wanting to still provide breastmilk for your baby while you are away! I would reccomend going with a medela double electric pump. You should try to pump at the times that you would ordinarily feed your baby to keep your supply up, maybe every 3 hours or so. Good luck!

I used a medela pump and it works great and is very quiet. They are pricey but worth it. I went back to work between 3-4 months after my kids were born. I pumped twice a day while at work. You may need to start with 3 times a day with a 6 week old depending on how much milk you can pump. I produced so much milk with my second, I didn't even use all of it so twice a day was plenty. As you start to wean, you will want to take it down to once a day and then no pumping during the day but you have a few months before you need to do that. Good luck.

I will tell you, I only had 4 weeks off before I had to go back, my little girl is 5 montha tomorrow. I wait tables and rare;y get more than 1 7 min breal in 6 or so hours. I pump at work before my shift starts and 3 hours later, and agsin when I get home. that supplies her with milk 4 the next night OI=I will be gone. I have tried medella ,playtex and avent. I LOVE MY AVENT ISIS DUO ELECTRIC, i havmedela I bought to bring to work thinking it was smaller and It never gets used, my avent pump works much better and faster, there are let down cushions that I say have to be part of it, mine still work, even after my cat chewed 1 up. It costs about 250 on amazon or walmart.com and it had a cd 2 freezer insulterd cases gel paks, 2,9oz and 2 , 4oz bottles with nipples and lids. I am actually using it as we speak, that is why I can not type, alo it is dark and If I turn on the light Molly will wake. I almost gave up on breasfeeding , didnt think I would be able to work and pump, you are lucky to have a desk job. Oh and did I mention, I use the lansinoh storage bags, they fit right over the ends of the pump so i pump and store in 1 step!

The advice you have gotten is great. I have 2 things to add.

You'll need to buy bra liners to help with the leaking.

Pump and store as much as possible right now. I went back to work and pumped with 2 kids. Eventually I did dry up both times. Find out the La Leche Leagues guidelines for storing and freezing milk. That way you never never never, even for a minute, have to supplement with formula. I got behind on my pumping when things got hectic and supplemeted with a little formula while at work. The decreased demand and being away from the baby resulted in my drying up. It took several months, but eventually, despite breastfeeding exclusively at home, I dried up. I wish I had taken the time to build up a bigger reserve before I had gone back to work.

When I went back to work after 2 months off, what I did was pump 1 in the morning, and once in the afternoon, but you might need to pump more than that. I would nurse before leaving, and as soon as I got home, and then every 1-2 hours thereafter. I also nursed on demand at night (usually 2x per night till he was about 5 months old, then 1 time per night till he was about 7 or 8 months old).

I also used the Medela Pump In Style double pump, and recommend it. I hated pumping, but it was worth it. Hospitals also rent pumps, if you want to look into renting instead of buying.

I am currently pumping and LOVE the Medela Pump In Style Advanced. I'm still on leave and have been freezing breast milk like a mad woman as I will be using that for daycare. Then, I plan to pump at work...once in the a.m. and once in the p.m. I'll also be going over to her daycare at lunch to breastfeed and cuddle (hopefully that will ease my separation from her...doubt it, but worth a shot).

You can definitely do it.

I highly recommend Medela's pump in style if they still make it.

I used it for 11 months pumping at least 6 times/day with my son. It held up great, and I was able to use it again for a few weeks with my daughter until chemo prevented me from nursing any longer. I pumped first thing in the morning, last thing at night and at least 3-4 times during the day (in my car because that was my office). I always used the same pump, and it always worked well.

It's a double pump, has a carrying case, and can operate either by battery or A/C adapter.

one word of caution: you can not return pumps after you've purchased them, so you may want to see if any local pharmacies rent them (so you can see if you like it) before you invest. It's not expensive.